Atheists in Fox Holes

[pyat]

From the The Slacktivist.

"I don't really understand the saying, "There are no atheists in foxholes." The reality, as seen from the enduring cultural and theological repercussions of World War I, is rather that very few theists emerge from the trenches."

Comments

[nottheterritory.livejournal.com]

That's one of those refutations that initially strikes one as so witty it must be true - but if you think about it, the two statements don't have anything to do with each other. The personal effect of finding oneself in a foxhole versus emerging from said foxhole at the end of a horrible war are very different. It would be more accurate to say, "people try on theism when confronted with life in foxholes - then, much later, when it doesn't get them out of the foxhole, emerge from the foxholes questioning everything."

Although also, many people who survive wars unscathed, emerge with an unshakeable faith in a supernatural agency that delivered them - since it seems so unlikely that you'll survive intact when you're in the middle of it.

[sixteenbynine.livejournal.com]

"people try on theism when confronted with life in foxholes - then, much later, when it doesn't get them out of the foxhole, emerge from the foxholes questioning everything."

Yeah, but you ever try to cram that onto a bumper sticker?

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Quiet, you!

By which I mean, yeah, I see that.

[nottheterritory.livejournal.com]

I do rather seem to have arrived at this discussion through a different door than anyone else...

[pyat.livejournal.com]

True, but it's a good door!

[taluagel.livejournal.com]

"Holy crap, timmy, alexander, commander richardson all died, but I am alive, clearly a magical sky wizard was looking over just me!"

[feywild.livejournal.com]

An invisible magical sky wizard! Who can see you when you go to the bathroom!

[madmanofprague.livejournal.com]

Or the wizard had it in for timmy and alex and dickie.